US expects transparent Pakistan’s investigation into Pathankot attack

WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday said it expects Pakistan’s investigation into the attack on the Indian airbase to be complete and transparent, and reiterated its commitment to the goal of peace between Pakistan and India.

“We note and we’re encouraged by the fact that the Pakistani Government condemned the attack and said that they would investigate,” US State Department Spokesman John Kirby told a press briefing.”Our expectation is that investigation will be thorough and complete and as transparent as possible.”

Referring to the telephonic call made by US Secretary of State John Kerry to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, the spokesman said the two leaders talked about the need to stay focused on terrorism not just in Pakistan but in the region.

The Secretary stressed that it was obviously United States interest that Pakistan and India continue to look forward for ways to work better together to reduce the tensions “to obviously to work better together on terrorism concerns but to reduce the tensions between the two countries” the spokesman added.

Replying to a question about the desire of people in Pakistan and India for peace, the spokesman said the United States was committed to that end. “These are tough issues, and these are some very complicated relationship.”

“We’re mindful of the stress that this has on local populations. We’re mindful of the insecurity that many people are faced with and dealing with every day, not just in that region but elsewhere around the world, which is why we here at the State Department remain so focused and committed to working bilaterally and multilaterally on counter-terrorism challenges,” he said.

To a question about the proposed talks between Pakistan and India scheduled for the middle of the month, the spokesman said that the Secretary spoke about it during his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Sharif.
The Secretary encouraged India and Pakistan to work bilaterally to continue discussions and to try to work through these problems,” he said.

Replying to a question about the visit of the US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Olson, to Islamabad to participate in the quadrilateral meeting, the spokesman said that the ambassador expressed US support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process as the surest way to end the violence and to ensure long and lasting stability in Afghanistan.

He said it was very important for the United States to be part it and for these nations to have bilateral dialogue and cooperation going forward. Ambassador Olso also met with senior Pakistan government officials to discuss bilateral and regional issues as well, the spokesman added.